Insect-repelling fabric and garment



Marh 2l, 1944.vv

F. A.v GILL INSECTREPELLING FABRIC AND GARMENT Filed Jan. 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l H15 269702 Vzejy;

March 21, 1944. F, A, GILL.

INSECT-EPELLING FABRIC AND GARMENT Filed Jan. 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 21, 1944 INSECT-REPELLING FABRIC AND GARMENT Ferdinand A.` Gill, Chicago, Ill.

'Application January 28, 1942, Serial No. 428,490

1 Claim.

This invention relates to insect-repelling fabrics and to garments or articles of clothing made therefrom.Y

An object of the invention is to afford a new and improved insect-repelling fabric and articles of clothing or garments made therefrom which are particularly adapted for wear by fishermen and soldiers and other persons who are required to penetrate places where mosquitoes and other insects are prevalent.

I am aware of the fact that heretofore various forms of insect-repelling fabrics or mosquito nettlngs have been provided but most of these, with which I am familiar, have been subject to the defect that in use they lie too closely upon or adjacent the skin or clothing and thus allow mosquitoes and other insects to bite therethrough without dfculty. p,

Accordingly, a further object of the invention is to afford a new and improved insect-repelling fabric and articles of clothing made therefrom and which are so constructed that they may be worn comfortably upon the person and at the same time are effective to prevent mosquitoes and other insects from biting therethrough.

An additional object of the invention is to afford a new and improved insect-repelling fabric or mosquito netting and articles of wearing apparel made therefrom which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture but eflicient in use.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating a garment made from the new insect-repelling fabric;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the headpiece which is embodied in the garment illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a coat made from the new insect-repelling fabric and embodied in the garment illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is a front elevational view of the trousers embodied in the new garment which is illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of a portion of the new insect-repelling fabric, with part of the netting embodied therein broken away to show the underlying supporting web construction;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on line 6-6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top plan view, similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating a slightly modified form of the new insect-repelling fabric.

A preferred form of the new insect-repelling fabric is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the same is generally indicated at I0 and comprises an underlying supporting web construction which is formed of intersecting strips II and I2. These strips II and I2 are preferably formed of sponge rubber, or other suitable or analogous material, and are preferably integrally joined together at the points where the strips II and I2 intersect, this being preferably done by` vulcanizing. the strips Il and I2 together at their points of intersection when said strips II and I2 are made of sponge rubber. v

Overlying the underlying supporting web structure I I-I 2 is a fabric netting I3 which may be formed of cotton or other suitable materiai now used as mosquito netting and having sufficient strength to enable it to be made into articles of wear, such as are illustrated in Figs, 1 to 4, inclusive. A suit made of the new insect-repelling fabric In is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and comprises a coat portion I4, which is provided with a slidable closure 3| at the front thereof, and with a pocket 30. The new suit also includes trousers I5, the latter being preferably provided with elastic ankle-embracing bands I 6 which are adapted to encircle the ankles of the wearer so as to afford a tight nt at these points and thus prevent mosquitoes and other insects from gaining access at these points. The trousers I5 are also provided with shoe straps I1 which are adapted to embrace the shoes of the wearer so as to hold the trousers I5 down in position of use and to prevent the same from creeping up on the body of the wearer.

The suit made of the new insect-repelling fabric I0 also includes a headpiece I8 which comprises a cap portion I9 and a tubular neck and face encircling portion 20 which is made of the new insect-repelling fabric I 0 and which is provided with a suitable mouth opening 23, the headpiece I 8 being adapted to be detachably attached to the collar portion of the coat I4 by means of suitable fastening elements 28 and 29.

The tubular neck and face encircling portion or member 20 is secured to the front edge of the peak or visor portion 2| of the cap I9, and along a part of the bottom edge of the cap I9, by means of a slidable closure 22 which is arranged to extend upwardly at one side of the face portion of the headpiece from the lower edge thereof and thence along the front below the peak or visor portion 2| of the cap I9 so as to enable the depending flaps of the headpiece to be detached at 28-29 from the collar of the coat and opened up and tied over the top of the cap I9, as and when desired, that is, when protection on the face and neck of the wearer is not required.

It will be noted particularly by reference to Figs. 5 and 6 that the underlying supporting web structure Ii-I2 has substantial depth, that is to say, is relatively thick compared to the thickness of the netting I3 and by reason of this fact the netting I3 is kept a substantial distance from or outwardly of the outer clothing and skin of the wearer. This prevents mosquitoes and other insects from readily penetrating through the new netting, and thereby overcomes a serious objection to mosquito nettings and other insect-repelling fabrics heretofore manufactured and used, while at the same time the new insect-repelling fabric l is flexible and lends itself readily to the manufacture of garments or articles of wear, such as those which are illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings.

It will also be noted, in this connection, that the new insect-repelling fabric 4may be used for making other articles of personal wear, in addir tion to those shown in the drawings, including so called shoulderettes for womens wear, leggings, and the like.

A slightly modified form of the new insectrepelling fabric is illustrated in Fig. '7, and is therein indicated at 24, and comprises an underlyingy supporting web structure which is formed by intersecting strips 25 and 26 which may be joined together in any suitable manner, as by sewing or stitching at their points of intersection, and are preferably made of suitable textile or like fabric material such as felt, cord or other cotton or related fabrics, and to which is fastened, in any suitable manner, as by sewing or the like, an overlying insect-repelling netting 2l. Otherwise, however, the insect-repelling fabric which is illustrated in Fig. 7 is substantial- 1y the same as that which is illustrated in Figs. and 6 and corresponding garments or articles of wear of the character illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, may be made therefrom.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention affords a new and improved insect-repelling fabric and garments or articles of personal wear made therefrom and which are especially useful to fishermen, soldiers and other persons required to go into swarnpy or like places where mosquitoes and other insects are prevalent, and that the present invention thus accomplishes the foregoing and other intended objects thereof.

I claim:

An insect-repelling suit for personal wear comprising a coat, trousers and headpiece, each composed, at least in part, of an insect-repelling fab ric comprising an underlying supporting web composed of intersecting strips of flexible material joined together at their points of intesection, and an overlying insect-repelling fabric netting, said intersecting strips being relatively thick or deep, compared to the thickness of said netting, so as to maintain said netting out of contact with the skin and outer clothing of the wearer and thus prevent or repel the biting of mosquitoes and other insects therethrough, said head piece including a cap having a visor and a tubular neck and face encircling member permanently attached to the cap at the back and sides and having a front closure portion having means for detachably securing it to the outer edge of the visor and extending downwardly from the visor to the lower edge of said tubular member and adapted when unfastened to permit the tubular member to be arranged over the top of the cap when protection is not required, and fastening means for securing the lower edge of the tubular neck encircling member to the coat at the top thereof. FERDINAND A. GILL. 

